Weather log January 2025

Weather log January 2025

Key:

WW = West Wales

Mids = Midlands

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Nott= Nottingham

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

MO = Met Office

NRW = National Resources Wales

EA = Environment Agency

est = estimated

inc = including

cf = compared with

srb = since records began

CC = Chiffchaff
WW= Willow Warbler
ST = Song Thrush
BB = Blackbird

Often cold early in the New Year with some remarkable temperature fluctuations 5th, the cold spell turned out rather prolonged but generally with small amounts of snow:

New Year's Day (Wed): wet start to 2025 18mm fell in the first 9 hours here at Llanwnnen however this counts towards Dec 2024 total! Capel Curig 116mm (0600) wettest in UK today, radar suggesting between 4 and 6 inches for Snowdonia. It turned colder during the day after a mild night.

Thu 2nd sharp frost in places, minima Tirabad -4.5c, Lwn -4.0c, CL -1.9c; a cold,/ rather cold sunny day with widely 6 or 7 hours Mids. Misty morning on the Llanwnnen webcam but a sunny afternoon. A few wintry showers affected parts of west Wales. Maxima Llanwnnen 2.4c, CL & Coventry 3.3c, Pershore 4.8c, CC 4.3c, Trawsgoed 6.1c, MH 6.5; sunshine Shobdon 6.9 hrs, Nott 6.8 hrs, Coventry 6.2 hrs, Lwn 3.5 hours (estimated).

Fri 3rd cold and frosty night, minima Pershore -5.2c, Llanwnnen -3.8c, CL -3.5c; rather cold sunny spells by day, a few showers over WW pm; maxima Lwn 4.4c, Coventry 5.7c.

Sat 4th frosty night again, minima generally -1c to -3c (Lwn -3.7c, CL -1c); amber warning for snow and ice issued covering most of Wales & Midlands starting this evening so we left there earlier than usual just in case. Very cold maxima generally 2 or 3c (Nott max 1.6c, Lwn 2.4c, Coventry 1.9c, Pershore College 3.4c, Milford Haven 5.7c). Light sleet and snow falling towards the end of our drive back to Wales (1700), further light snow during the evening put down a slushy 2cm on the back lawn.

Sun 5th overnight snow gave 1 or 2 inches widely, however the warm sector arrived across SW Wales and so no snow left on our lawns by observation time (0900). Both Coventry & Rugby had an inch or so but this mostly turned to sleet or rain during the morning. Capel Curig reporting 10cm snow depth 0600 most I could find. Remarkable temperature rise during the night here at Lwn, from 0c and sleet at midnight to 10c by 0900! Even more remarkable rises over the south Midlands later in the day with over 7c rises in half hour some places! The warm sector made just ever so slow progress north and east during the day, the mild air reached Aberystwyth teatime (max 12.1c) but did not reach Snowdonia (max 1.4c Capel Curig to 2100). West Wales back in the colder air by mid evening Llanwnnen down to 6c 1900. Very mild air up into the south and east Midlands by evening, places just a few miles apart differing by up to 8c the cold/ mild boundary so stark and slow moving (for example 3c in Coventry at 1900 while Rugby just 10 miles east 11c). Church Lawford peaked at 12.1c 2100 having been a cold 3.5c 4 hours earlier (mildest spot today Pershore max 12.8c, coldest Nott max 1.7c); ROW 25.4mm wettest our regions.

Temperature differences Warwickshire Jan 5th 1800

Mon 6th heavy overnight rain Midlands in particular, widely over an inch, locally nearer 2 inches with quite widespread flooding. Totals 0900: Coventry 35.4mm having its wettest January day (previous record 30.3mm back in 1927), also King's Newnham 28.4mm, Lwn 27.1mm, Church Lawford 25mm. The village of Wolston suffered bad flooding again although this time the waters only entered the toilets of the Royal Oak (Brandon) and not 3 feet up the bar (Jan 2024). The river Avon at Warwick  attained its highest levels since April 1998. Severe flooding also in Leicestershire.

Tue 7th wintry showers gave snow coverings to parts of west Wales and NW Midlands overnight. Here at Lwn a 1cm covering that survived until 0900 making it the first day of snow lying since December 2022.

Wed 8th very cold and mainly cloudy as some sleet and snow affected far south of England, maxima Capel Curig & Market Bosworth +0.2c, CL & Coventry +0.6c, Lwn 1.1c, Hereford 1.7c, Pershore & Shobdon 1.9c, Trawsgoed 3.1c,  Aberdaron 3.7c. Distant snow cover visible on Pumlumon and Cader Idris from Aberaeron.

Thu 9th hard frost quite widely also a few wintry showers affecting Wales in particular, giving some slight coverings once more. Minima Tirabad (Powys) -7.8c, Pershore -7.2c, Lwn -6.9c, CC -6.8c, Pembrey Sands -4.1c, Coventry -3.7c, CL & Nott -3.6c, Aberporth +0.4c. A few further wintry showers chiefly WW, cold again, maxima generally 3 to 5c.

Fri 10th frost severe in places, minima Pershore & Shawbury -7.1c, Tirabad -6.5c, CL -6.1c, CC & CITE -5.8c, Coventry -5.5c, Lwn -4.8c, Mona & Trawsgoed -4.3c, Nott -4.0c, Aberdaron +0.6c. Cold day again, an ice day in places; rather cloudy WW, sunny spells Mids, maxima Lake Vyrnwy (Powys) & Wellesbourne -0.9c, Pershore -0.1c, Market Bosworth +0.6c, Cov 1.9c, Lwn 2.9c, Nott 3.4c, Trawsgoed 3.5c, MH 5.3c. Altnaharra in the northern Scottish Highlands had a 'high' of -10.8c today after a minimum of -14.4c!

Sat 11th cold spell now on the way out slowly from the west; hard frost and freezing fog across the Midlands and N Wales, with fog this slow to clear; much cloud mid and SW Wales and stayed above freezing, minima Pershore -8.6c, Shawbury -7.0c, CL -6.5c, CC & Coleshill -5.5c, Cov -5.0c, Nott -4.5c, Mona -0.3, Lwn +0.1c, Trawsgoed 1.5c, Aberdaron 4.1c; Altnaharra min -18.9c the coldest UK reading since February 2021 (Braemar -23.0c). Less cold today WW, while Mids very cold ice days where fog persistent, it lasted to late afternoon Coventry area; maxima (2100) CITE -1.9c, Church Lawford -1.8c, Hereford +1.2c, Nott 5.3c, CC 5.1c, Lwn 5.7c, Aberporth 6.5c, Valley 7.3c.

A very cold first 11 days of January, many places 3c below average to date (inc here at Llanwnnen averaging just 1.2c).

Sun 12th much of the Midlands above freezing by dawn with a slow thaw underway. However still a rather cold day much of the Mids, whereas WW was average or rather mild, maxima CL 3.1c (to 1800), Nott 3.5c, Sutton Bonington 3.6c, Capel Curig 6.1c, Hereford 7.2c, Lwn 7.7c (Jan average), ROW 8.5c, Trawsgoed 9.4c, MH 9.7c.

Mon 13th only a slight frost parts of the Midlands: it was still a rather cold feel with the breeze today, a touch colder than yesterday Lwn (max 6.7c) and rather cold much of Midlands (Coventry 5.5c).

Tue 14th mild air extended to Midlands today, very mild Marches, Maxima Shawbury 12.6c, Hereford 12.4c,  Trawsgoed 10.8c, Lwn 10.1c, Mona 10.0c,Coventry 9.9c, Pembrey Sands 9.7c, CL 9.6c.

Wed 15th sunny day for WW and parts of Mids, misty others, maxima between average (8c) and very mild (13c), Shawbury a sunny 13.1c, Coleshill 12.8c, Coventry & Market Bosworth 12.2c, Trawsgoed 11.3c, Lwn 9.0c, Pershore 8.6c, CC 8.5c. Note Aboyne max 15.7c warmest place in UK today after being in the freezer last week!

First half of January 2025 cold; rainfall varying from very dry (Snowdonia) to very wet (Notts); sunshine generally average to sunny.

Much of WW below average rain, much of the Midlands average to wet.

Rainfall 1st - 0900 16th January:

CC 70mm (very dry), Trawsgoed 58.8mm (average), Llanwnnen 56.7mm (rather dry), Nott 54.4mm (very wet), MH 46.8mm (rather dry), Pershore 45.6mm (wet), Coventry 42.4mm (rather wet), KN 40mm, Mona 39.4mm (average), Coleshill 38.2mm (rather wet), CL 36.6mm (rather wet), Shobdon 34.4mm (average).

Sunshine 1st to 15th: Shobdon 38.5 hrs (sunny), Watnall (Notts) 37 hrs (sunny), Coventry 28 hrs (average), Lwn 26 hrs (quite sunny).

Thu 16th frost and/or fog overnight, slow to clear parts of Mids; minima Shobdon -4.6c (coldest in UK), also Lwn -3.1c, Trawsgoed -2.3c, CL -1.0c, MH & Valley 6.5c. Foggy Coventry city centre until after midday (webcam). Lovely and sunny again here at Lwn, able to sit in the garden sun felt quite warm and ended up an unbroken 7.5 hours. Variable temperatures once more from cold within the inversions, foggy or sunny, (Hereford max 3.6c coldest in UK) to very mild in other locations (Bala, Gwynedd max 13.5c mildest in UK); other max  Shobdon 4.6c (in spite of the sun), CL 5.7c, Sutton Bonington 7.9c, Pembrey Sands 8.6c, Lwn 9.1c, Trawsgoed 12.1c, Pennerley (Salop) 12.4c; other sun Shobdon 7.6 hrs, Nott 7.4 hrs.

Sat 18th SE continental feed made it a very cold day Midlands and rather cold WW, maxima CL & Coventry 1.2c, Hereford 3.7c, Lwn 5.3c, Trawsgoed 5.4c, MH 7.3c. Mostly cloudy although Aberporth 3 hours sun (Lwn 0 hrs).

Sun 19th another generally cold and cloudy day, maxima Market Bosworth 1.8c, Shobdon 1.9c, CL & Coventry 2.0c, Shawbury 3.1c, CC 3.4c, Lwn 4.3c, MH & Mona 5.8c.

Mon 20th much milder WW, less cold Mids with some sunny intervals.

Late January generally mild or average temperatures and unsettled:

Thu 23rd red warnings issued for much of Ireland & Scotland for tonight/ tomorrow as a very deep tight low (named storm Eowyn) crosses.

Fri 24th 700,000 homes without power across Ireland today as winds topped 100mph in exposed locations (max gust 114mph Mace Head provisionally overnight); strong to gale winds for Wales overnight into the morning, highest gusts Aberdaron 93mph, CC 88mph, MH 75mph, Aberporth 67mph, Trawsgoed 50mph; estimated close to 60mph here at Lwn in the early hours, it was a wild, noisy night! Over an inch of rain parts of Wales 24 hours to 0900 (Lwn 29mm).

Sun 26th showers or longer spells of rain gave an inch parts of mid & S Wales.

Mon 27th Lwn 26.4mm 0900 and the third day this month over an inch (note never had a month having 4 days over an inch although many with 3 days). Further spell of wet weather pm and overnight gave  further inch or more much of Wales.

Tue 28th Lwn measured 30.9mm 0900 and so the fourth day over an inch this month (in what has not been an especially wet month). First time to have more than 3 such days in a month here. Thats 99mm in the past 5 days, Teifi has substantial flooding of its plains. Quite a lot of road flooding and fog reported around the area this morning. 

Looked back at local NRW gauges and Cellan had 5 days with 25mm or more in December 2000 and October 2004 (both very wet months above 300mm).

Nature notes 

Tue 2nd a fine cold sunny day in Warwickshire: Green Woodpecker laughing along the bridleway to Little Lawford also 'teacher teacher' of a Great Tit; a dozen Long Tailed Tit at the ford then again Long Tailed Tit in the garden close to me.

Sun 5th Daff spikes well up at usual early the spot south end of Bro Grannell.

Mon 6th first Bluebell spikes under Apple tree.

Tue 14th Song Thrush hitting some notes early morning; Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming loudly Alltyblaca as walking back from the garage. Evening slugs making a mid-Winter reappearance!

Wed 15th first Snowdrops Grannell lane, these next to a fly-tipped drift of what appear to be polystyrene beads (up to a foot deep); reported this to local authority, it will be a nice surprise if they tidy this up, otherwise I shall attempt to or many Snowdrops will be buried this year but not by snow!

Mid Jan Song Thrush singing well especially at dawn (they have started up very early in recent years).

Daffs over the road coming up.

Thu 16th lively in the garden, Robin, Dunnock and Starlings all singing together, Tits very active and calling.

Mon 20th polystyrene bead piles still by the river so dealt with them myself, cleared 5 black bags full just leaving a relatively few thousand or so getting trodden into the mud (removed well over 99%). Lots of Snowdrops revealed as expected and hopefully to join their neighbours in bloom shortly.

Thu 23rd Llansadwrn driving back from Llandovery first Daffs out.

Sat 25th garden one Celandine about to flower.

Garden Birdwatch 1 hour afternoon, sunny 6c: 10 Blue Tit, 8 Starling, 6 House Sparrow, 3 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Blackbird, 1 Jay, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chaffinch.

Month end plenty of Snowdrops out and Daff leaves up. Song Thrush still singing well out the back.

Fri 31st Neuadd lane: Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, birds active and vocal inc Song Thrush singing, Tits calling. Grannell lane Snowdrops in fine bloom having been exhumed.

January 2025 summary

Rather cold/ near average temperatures; rainfall varying from rather dry to wet; sun average to sunny

Much of WW near average temperatures, the Midlands rather cold.

Rainfall totals Jan 2025

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 183mm (rather dry)

Mona, Anglesey119mm (rather wet)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 142mm (rather wet)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 140mm (wet)

Llanwnnen 176.4mm (115%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 105mm (average)

Milford Haven, Pembs 124mm (average)

Nottingham 79mm (rather wet)

Shawbury, Salop c 70mm (rather wet)

Coleshill 70mm (average)

Coventry, Bablake School 76.9mm (125%)

CL, Warks 62.8mm (112%)

Pershore, Worc 80mm (wet)

Hereford 84mm (rather wet)

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 66.0mm

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges Jan 2025

(note Llanwnnen had 18mm midnight to 0900 Jan 1st thrown back to Dec 31st while the totals below include that time period)

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 157.4mm (wet)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 220.4mm (average)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 303mm (average)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 127.8mm (rather wet)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 210.6mm (average)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 126mm (rather wet)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 165mm (average)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 180.4mm (rather wet)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 153.6mm (average)

Pencader (Carms)  209.4mm (rather wet)

Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms)  201.8mm (average)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 183mm (average)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 162.4mm (average)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 111.6mm (rather dry)

Southgate, Gower 105.6mm (average)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) 144.6mm (rather wet)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 213.4mm (wet)

Tenby (Pembs) 122.2mm (average)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 132mm (average)

COL stations rainfall Jan 2025

Llansadwrn 129.5mm (125%)

Ludlow, Salop 80.9mm (107%)

Alvechurch, Worc 85mm (114%)

Warstock, Brum 85.8mm (121%)

Alcester (Great Alne) 110.5mm (212%) note always seems wet this one!

Cosby, Leic 78mm (127%)

Hinckley 91.4mm (149%)

Towcester, Northants 79.2mm (123%)

Sunshine totals Jan 2025

Llanwnnen estimated  53 hrs (120%)

Nottingham 70 hrs (quite sunny)

Coventry, Bablake School 59 hrs (92%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 81 hrs (sunny)

COL stations sun

Ludlow 91 hrs (154%)

Warstock 64.6 hrs 

Alvechurch 59 hrs (101%)

Cosby 60.3 hrs (93%)

Towcester 83 hrs

Weather log December 2024

Weather log December 2024

Key:

WW = West Wales

Mids = Midlands

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Nott= Nottingham

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

MO = Met Office

NRW = National Resources Wales

EA = Environment Agency

est = estimated

inc = including

cf = compared with

srb = since records began

CC = Chiffchaff
WW= Willow Warbler
ST = Song Thrush
BB = Blackbird

Sun 1st a very mild start to Winter 2024, it was apparently the mildest December 1st in the 130 year record at Coventry, minimum 10.8c (previous record 9.0c Dec 1st year 2000). Other minima Pembrey Sands 12.6c, Pershore 12.0c, Shobdon 11.6c,  Nott 10.9c, Lwn 10.8c, CC 10.6c. It was Coventry's mildest December 1st on record as well (max 14.5c today), other max Wellesbourne 15.1c, Shobdon 14.8c, CITE 14.3c, Pembrey Sands 13.2c, Nottingham 13.0c, Aberporth & Lwn 12.3c, Whitechurch (Pembs) 30mm wettest in the UK.

Mostly mild and unsettled first week or so:

Fri 6th West & S Wales and the SW in a red wind warning for tomorrow (named storm Darragh).

Sat 7th named storm Darragh was a powerful and sustained one! The deep low slowly crossed N Eng into the N Sea today, the winds had been SW to west overnight veered NW early morning. Winds really picked up here by 0200 with tremendous gusts estimated at over 60mph. A lot of rain too 33mm by 0900 and 39mm by 1100 when it eased somewhat. The back garden bore the brunt during the afternoon, at times it seemed to ease but then the severe gusts returned with a vengeance. Some of the fencing surrounding our garden damaged although it was already loose, a small dead Ash tree came down too. Several brief power cuts this afternoon, winds still gusting to an estimated 65mph (perhaps 70?). Certainly at least on par with the strongest winds experienced here (max gust 65mph when the anemometer still worked several years back). Hundreds of trees down across the county and localised flooding, for example a large tree blocked the main road to Aberystwyth at Chancery and another blocked the road up to Cwmann just past the former tavern. Co-op car park Lampeter flooded up to the store (not so unusual). Some parts of the county have been without power most of the day.

Highest gusts today: Capel Curing 93mph overnight, Aberdaron 92mph overnight (mean windspeeds topped 65mph at times here); other Pembrey Sands 86mph, Aberporth 85mph; even inland Trawsgoed recorded 71mph this afternoon, some of the highest speeds I recall seeing there.  Strong winds continued into the night with some gusts still reaching 50mph I reckon until at least midnight. An unusually sustained episode of very strong winds and from an unusual direction (NW). Aberporth having gusts over 80mph for 9 successive hours! Top gusts Midlands at Shawbury 63mph with Coventry 53mph, CL 52mph. Trees were being blown over here too during the evening. Although gusts not extreme, Coventry had its windiest day (mean windspeed 20.1mph) since December 1993 (21.6mph) showing how sustained it was. Although the anemometer here stopped measuring wind speed several years ago it is quite likely that this was 'a day of gale' which necessitates the day having at least a period of 10 minutes during which the speed averages at least 39mph (gale force). There were no such days during the operational 7 years and so unusual if correct. A PWS in the Preselis had gusts over 90mph! The highest gust ever recorded at Aberporth is 107mph from the Burn's day' storm January 1990.

NRW rainfall totals to midnight: Dinas, near Ponterwyd in the Cambrians 96mm, Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia 91mm); Pembrokeshire bore the brunt of the wind but escaped the worst of the rain (Tenby just 1mm); Capel Curing 72mm wettest MO site today, Trawsgoed 61mm, Llanwnnen 36mm.

Sun 8th died down at last but still gusting towards 40mph during the morning. Remarkable how the wind has dried things out, 24 hours ago the lawn was boggy with pools of standing water, today much of it is fairly firm to walk on with little mud!

Several mostly dry and rather cold days followed before it turned unsettled again by mid month.

First half of December 2024 has been very mild and very dull, rainfall ranging from dry to very wet:

Rain totals 1st to 0900 16th:

Mona 50mm (average), Capel Curig 202.4mm (rather wet), Trawsgoed 111mm (very wet), Aberporth 45mm (average), Llanwnnen 95.6mm (rather wet), Pembrey Sands 31mm (dry), Milford Haven 29mm (dry); Nottingham 40mm (rather wet), Coleshill 32mm (average), Coventry 36.5mm (rather wet), Church Lawford 36.8mm (rather wet),  Pershore 27mm (average), Hereford 22mm (dry).

Sunshine 1st - 15th: Aberdaron 14 hours, Llanwnnen 9 hours (estimated), Nottingham 11 hrs, Coventry 12.7 hrs, Shobdon 11 hrs (all very dull).

Unsettled spell after mid month, often mild or very mild:

Wed 18th plentiful rain as a low crossed S UK, widely around an inch, nearer 2 inches locally; Capel Curig 39.2mm (2100), and to 0900 19th Lwn 27.1mm, Coventry 26.8mm. Also very mild, maxima above 14c parts of Mids (Pershore 14.5c).

Christmas period mild and mostly dry:

Christmas Eve (Tue) mild or very mild, maxima Shobdon 13.6c, Nott & Trawsgoed 12.1c, Lwn 11.6c, MH, Pembrey Sands & Pershore 11.1c, Astwood Bank 10.2c; sunny intervals in places.

Christmas Day (Wed) a mild day; mostly cloudy, a little drizzle west Wales, sunny spells Midlands but fog much of the day some places: maxima ROW 12.7c, CITE & Shobdon 12.3c, Nottingham 11.9c, Trawsgoed 11.5c, Llanwnnen 10.6c, Capel Curig 9.2c, Astwood Bank (Worc) 9.0c, Church Lawford 8.9c.

Boxing Day (Thu) here at Lwn much of last night cloudy, this cleared before dawn allowing the temperature to drop to 2c and almost a ground frost, most of the day then lovely unbroken sun but foggy by dusk. A few places may have had a grass frost (Tirabad air min 1.2c). Fog persistent parts of the Midlands, checking the Coventry webcam there was thick fog there all afternoon. The fog indicative of temperature inversion in which foggy valleys can be colder than sunny hills by day, hence very variable maxima Pennerley (Stiperstones, Salop) 13.7c (warmest in UK), Trawsgoed 13.4c, ROW 12.7c, CITE 12.3c, Lwn 8.9c, Pembrey Sands 8.3c, Coventry 6.9c, Nott 6.1c, Hereford 5.3c.

Fri 27th local air frost parts of inland Wales (Tirabad min -1.7c), widespread and persistent mist or fog again, this being the case at Llanwnnen where visibility not above 400 metres all day, also at Coventry a foggy day (webcam). Unusual to have an all day fog here at Lwn, visibility 100- 400 metres. Quite a cold day where foggy, Lwn max just 4.1c the coldest day of a mild month; other max Shobdon 2.0c, Llysdinam (Powys) 2.1c, Market Bosworth 2.6c, Coventry 2.9c, Sutton Bonington 3.7c, Pennerley 11.3c.

Rather mild to end the year but not much rain:

New Years Eve (Tue) mild maxima generally 10-12c.

Nature notes

Start of month: first Celandine leaves out and first few Primrose flowers. 

Tue 3rd a recently in flower (last week?) secondary Foxglove up the lane southern forestry 

Sun 8th not much storm aftermath apparent but half dozen large trees down on the small but exposed hill near Neuadd farm.

Mon 9th southern forestry terrible destruction: firstly a lot of Beech trees up the lane uprooted, these were perhaps 200 years old (between 6 and 10 of these down); it was when the wind veered NW and must have funnelled along the valley; talked to the man who recently bought the run down house (Caermalwas-Fach) the property just 50 yards from the trees that fell and with a number of large mature trees in his garden inc Beech, Horse Chestnut and Eucalyptus he has no choice but to fell those in case they fall on his house. He told me that the forestry up by the gate had gone. Also he was without power for 3 days now. He was right it was shocking, must be several thousands trees flattened or snapped off on top of the hill, it was impossible to get through either track they were blocked by all the trees. Walked back down the lane chatted to another man who lives nearby also without power still (our worst was just a 6 hour outage Sunday evening). Another devastated area to the right of the bottom track near the valley bottom near the road, many hundreds more downed conifers. Was though able to follow this track and up the hill and along much of the other end of the upper track (that was blocked so badly at the gate end), and so some areas of forestry did survive. The interior of this forest section almost entirely down for half mile or so. Across the valley to the north the western flanks of that forestry seemed unscathed as did the one to the west, and so not utter devastation.

Wed 11th: on the way to Newquay not so many trees down excepting on more exposed NW facing hills. Newquay & Aberaeron likewise appeared to have got off lightly, although a man in Newquay said lots of roofs had suffered damage but had mostly already been repaired. 

Spoke with the pet shop man who lives at Aberarth just north of Aberaeron, quite near the church which is very exposed 100 metres up on a hill overlooking Cardigan Bay. He planted his 15 acres with trees 15 years ago and reckons to have lost several acres. Also he told me that the church roof had blown off. 

Sat 14th all locations have power back on one week after Darragh

This blog provides a very good account of storm Darragh from nearby Rhydcymerau in Carmarthenshire and has photos of the Caermalwas Fach beech destruction amongst others:

https://thegardenimpressionists.com/2024/12/18/storm-darragh-dimensions-death-destruction-shock-survivors-scents/

Lovely old tree downed by wind University by the footbridge, thankfully could n't see anymore though.

Christmas Eve, Lampeter, Song Thrush singing by Student Union.

Christmas Day many birds calling, inc Tits, Starlings singing their heads off.

Late month: the very mild month with a total absence of air frost has meant continuing albeit slow vegetation growth such as ground weeds and some flowers; garden hedgerow producing fresh leaves since trimmed October. Celandine foliage well progressed. Notably the lawn has many spiders webs amongst the grass which is more typical of Autumn.  Rooks already active Uni rookery.

Fri 27th Neuadd lane, Celandine foliage advanced; patch of fresh green ferns by the Grannell stream along with a few Redwing going to roost.

Sub 29th Abergavenny Blackbird singing quite well dusk by the car park. Much Mistletoe evident en route to Midlands (as usual most of it between Crickhowell and Ross-on-Wye). Quite a few trees down in Wales but not more than 1% seemingly.

Long Lawford Bluebell spikes in garden along with plentiful Primroses in flower.

Green Woodpecker her a few times whilst in Long Lawford.

December 2024 summary

Very mild and dull/very dull; rain variable from  dry to wet

Rainfall totals Dec 2024

Mona, Anglesey 119mm

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 424.8mm (wet)

Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular 124.2mm (wet)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 194.2mm (wet)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog 102.2mm (average)

Llanwnnen 189.4mm (101%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 70.2mm (dry)

Milford Haven, Pembs 80.6mm (rather dry)

Nottingham (Watnall) 73.6mm (average)

Shawbury, Salop 83.6mm (rather wet)

Coleshill 62.8mm (average)

Coventry, Bablake School 77.6mm (125%)

CL, Warks 63.8mm (112%)

Pershore, Worc 52.4mm (average)

Hereford 52mm (rather dry)

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 63.0mm

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges Dec 2024

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 128.2mm (average)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 229.6mm (rather wet)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 554.6mm (wet)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 131.6mm (rather wet)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 152mm (wet)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 197.6mm (rather wet)(

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 193mm (rather wet)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 129.6mm (rather dry)

Pencader (Carms)  185mm (average)

Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 203mm (average)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 183.6mm (average)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 164mm (average)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 109mm (rather dry)

Southgate, Gower 74.3mm (dry)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 183mm (average)

Tenby (Pembs) 104.2mm (rather dry)

COL stations rainfall Dec 2024

Llansadwrn 173.6mm (128%)

Ludlow, Salop 65.6 mm (79%)

Alvechurch, Worc 97.7mm (118%)

Warstock, Brum 86.6mm (112%)

Alcester (Great Alne) 90.4mm (162%)

Cosby, Leic 83mm (132%)

Hinckley 78mm

Towcester, Northants 60.3mm (87%)

Sunshine totals Dec 2024

Aberdaron 19 hrs (very dull)

Aberporth 19.8 hrs (very dull)

Llanwnnen estimated  20 hrs (55%)

Nottingham 32.2 hrs (dull)

Shawbury 22.6 hrs (very dull)

Coventry, Bablake School 24.4 hrs (46%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 28.8 hrs (very dull)

COL stations sun Dec 2024

Alvechurch 21.7 hrs 

Warstock (Brum) 23.3 hrs

Cosby (Leic) 26.2 hrs

Towcester (Northants) 31.3 hrs

2024 annual summary

Dull, mild and wet

Another very wet year most of Midlands, at Coventry 2023/24 the wettest back to back years with over 1800mm. Most of West Wales rather less wet with respect to averages. Coventry had it's wettest year since 1912 (939.6mm) and dullest since 1993 (1359 hours). At Llanwnnen 38 air frosts was the least recorded (beating 41 last year).

Rainfall totals 2024

Coventry 934.2mm (135%)

Church Lawford 822.2mm (122%)

King's Newnham (EA) 835.4mm

Llanwnnen 1491.5mm (114% of historical Lampeter average and 106% of the 2006-24 average here)

Sunshine totals 2024

Coventry 1376 hrs (90%)

Llanwnnen 1011 hrs (75%) = dullest in estimations since began 2013.

Weather log November 2024

Weather log November 2024

Key:

WW = West Wales

Mids = Midlands

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Nott= Nottingham

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

MO = Met Office

NRW = National Resources Wales

EA = Environment Agency

est = estimated

inc = including

cf = compared with

srb = since records began

CC = Chiffchaff
WW= Willow Warbler
ST = Song Thrush
BB = Blackbird

Anticyclonic start to November making a change for 2024 which has for the most part been unsettled and wet, however a lot of cloud or 'anticyclonic gloom':

Mon 4th everywhere overcast once more except where Derek Brockway showed for N Pembrokeshire where the wind crossing the Preselis broke up the cloud around Fishguard for a time afternoon!

Tue 5th Interesting that the models towards then end of October signalled the prolonged dry spell but showed mild or very maxima (13 - 17c). In reality although nights have been very mild (above 10c at times) days have been average or rather cool. Today Midlands rather cool, WW mild, we were in Aberystwyth where it felt very mild, got home where it had only been a modest max 12.7c whereas Gogerddan (near Aberystwyth) warmest in Wales max 14.4c. Other maxima: Market Bosworth 9.8c, Coleshill & Coventry 10.0c, Shawbury 11.3c, CC 11.9c, Trawsgoed 14.1c.

Wed 6th notably mild night parts of WW, minima widely above 11c; lows MH 13.2c, Valley 13.0c, Lwn 11.3c (early in the evening), CC 11.4c, Shawbury 10.2c, CL 8.0c. Porthmadog max 16.2c warmest in Wales, Lwn 14.6c.

Thu 7th end of the cloudy spell (7 days) here at Llanwnnen with some warm sunny periods (max 15.9c), other parts of west and north Wales saw some sun too, elsewhere another cloudy day (10 successive sun-less days now at Coventry). Other maxima Porthmadog 16.7c, Valley 15.5c, Trawsgoed 15.1c, Aberdaron 13.9c, Wellesbourne 11.7c,  Coventry & CL 11.2c, Market Bosworth 10.9c.

Fri 8th longest dry spell of 2024 here at Llanwnnen today being the tenth successive day having no more than a trace of rain. Mild night but cooler by day the high 10.9c at 0700 dropping below 10c from midday. 

Sat 9th first day this Season with widespread maxima below 10c (Midlands) whereas most of WW a bit milder just above 10c: Market Bosworth max 6.9c, Coventry 8.0c, ROW 8.5c, Lwn 10.4c, Trawsgoed 10.9c, Porthmadog 12.3c. Continuation of the overcast skies for the Midlands. 

Nights remarkably mild thus far in November with all the cloud and mild air masses, to 9th average minima here at Lwn 9.5c which is closer to the daytime average in November.

Sun 10th end of an 11 day dry spell here at Llanwnnen, the last time there was something similarly dry at this time of year was November 2016 when there was a more prolonged dry spell end of the month into December. Some sunny intervals at long last parts of the Midlands, at Coventry an 11 day dull spell was ended.

Towards mid month: still mainly dry, more in the way of sunny spells with some slight frosts and fog in places by night:

Tue 12th Derek Brockway showed Lampeter as being the coldest spot in Wales last night at -2c, my min -1.6c (-2c rounded down) and so he most likely referenced here as he does from time to time.

Wed 13th another frosty night some areas, minima Lwn -2.0c, Swyddffynnon -0.7c (official Wales coldest), CC & Trawsgoed -0.4c, Pershore +1.1c, CITE 1.7c, Aberdaron 6.2c; quite a few places over 6 hours sun today (near unbroken), Coventry 6.8 hrs, Shobdon 6.7 hrs, Nott 6.6 hrs, Lwn 6 hrs est.

First half of November exceptionally dry; mild or very mild and dull/ very dull

Few locations have exceeded 10mm rain thus far with a few barely above 0mm for this one of the wetter months of the year on average. All locations well below average sun and all well above average temperatures.

Rainfall Nov 1st to 0900 16th: Pembrey Sands & Pershore 0.8mm, Aberporth & Coleshill 1.4mm, Coventry & Hereford 1.6mm, Nottingham 1.8mm, CL 2.0mm, Lwn 2.2mm, Capel Curig 2.4mm, Aberdaron 3.6mm, Aberystwyth 4.8mm, MH 5mm (Capel Curig November average being 293mm).

Sunshine 1st to 15th Nov 2024: Aberdaron 13.4 hours, Coventry 14.4 hrs, Nott 18 hrs, Shobdon 18.4 hrs, Lwn c 20 hrs.

Cold snap commenced after mid month:

Mon 18th low system traversing ESE across southern UK into relatively cold air. Initially the warm sector with this gave a very mild evening for SW Wales, here at Llanwnnen the day had been rather cold (max 8c) but rose to 11c during the evening, and 13c Pembrokeshire & S Carms. In contrast maxima just 5c much of the Midlands with snowfalls for N Mids & NE Wales evening but rain elsewhere; maxima MH 13.2c, Pembrey Sands 13.1c, Lwn 11.2c, Trawsgoed 8.9c, ROW 7.3c, Coventry 5.3c, CITE 4.9c, Nott 4.5c.

Tue 19th overnight snowfalls gave 5 inches to Peak District and parts of NE Wales (especially Wrexham area). The warnings even early this morning were not showing snow south of Brum yet late night into the morning it was central and S Mids that bore the brunt of the snow as the trough headed SE; Lickey Hills south of Brum reported as having 10-12cm, 8cm S Brum, 5cm Solihull and 2cm Coventry; much of the Midlands from the Peaks to the Cotswolds & Malverns under snow cover. Greatest depths reported as 17.5cm Peak District and 12cm Watnall (Notts), also it looked a good 6 inches in the Wrexham area on the news. A very cold day for November, here at Lwn max 3.5c made it the coldest day so early in extended 'Winter' and also the coldest in November since the the exceptional cold spell of 2010 (when max -2.2c 28/11/2010); elsewhere Pennerley (Salop) max -0.5c coldest spot in the UK, Libanus (Powys) +0.2c, Nott 1.7c, Shawbury 1.8c, CL & Coventry 2.2c, Wellesbourne 2.6c, CC & Lwn 3.5c, MH 8.6c. Parts of WW also seeing a little sleet or snow as here at Lwn during the morning.

Wed 20th cold frosty night, Lwn min -5.1c, other minima Tirabad -5.4c, Trawsgoed -5.0c, Shobdon -4.2c, Pembrey Sands -3.5c, Nott -3.1c, Coventry -2.1c, Coleshill -1.2c, Aberdaron 3.8c. Further wintry showers today, overnight a 'Cheshire Gap' streamer gave snow showers as far SE as Brum with an inch settling parts of the Black Country. Here at Lwn awoke by loud thunder 0750 then a flash of lightning 0810 followed a couple of seconds by loud thunder again along with heavy hail showers that gave a 1cm accumulation. This was from a shower streamer from the Irish Sea, as it edged west another rumble c 5 miles west 0850 and finally one more distant to SW 0910. 

From the forestry this afternoon when it was sunny, the hail covering better preserved up here by the altitude and shade at 1- 2cm depth. Looking NE the higher Cambrians 5 miles or so distant had no whitening (from snow or hail) whatsoever while the area west of Drefach/ Cwrtnewydd looked whitest. This tied in well with the band that the streamer affected this morning being about 10 miles wide between Lampeter and Llandysul with the radar showing that those hills to the east of Lampeter escaped mostly dry while  Cwrtnewydd to Synod Inn (west of Llanwnnen) caught the largest totals with rainfall equivalent (judging from radar) about an inch (here at Lwn it was 5mm). The travel report on Radio Wales driving back mentioned that at Prengwyn (Ceredigion) the road was partially blocked still by snow and ice, this village being under the worst of the shower streamer. Also on FB it was apparent that many roads were impassable this morning for example around Synod Inn, New Inn and Pencader, while a bus got stuck at Gwyddgrug on the hill and many cars had slid off roads.

New Inn road impassable

Needless, a cold or very cold day (20th) for most, though sunny for the Midlands, maxima generally 4 to 7c (mid November averages 9 to 11c); Libanus in the Brecon Beacons max 0.3c, Shawbury 3.6c, Llanwnnen 3.8c, CL 4.1c, CC 4.5c, Market Bosworth 5.0c, Pershore College 5.4c, Trawsgoed 5.9c, MH 7.5c, Scolton Country Park (Pembs) 7.9c.

Thu 21st a frosty night with a few wintry showers in places; minima Shawbury -6.2c, CC -5.5c, Nott -3.9c,  Coventry -3.7c, Trawsgoed -3.6c, Lwn -3.2c, Mona & Pershore College -2.8c, CL -2.6c, Aberporth & MH +1.0c. Widely the day was very cold with a scattering of wintry showers, maxima Libanus +0.3c, Nott 3.1c, CC 3.6c, CL 3.8c, Lwn 4.1c, Pershore 4.8c, MH & Winterbourne 5.1c, Porthmadog 7.3c.

Fri 22nd last day of the rather notable November cold snap: the night less cold here at Lwn as a WNW breeze stirred the air, the minimum was teatime (just below 0c) but from midnight was above 3c with a slight thaw of ice underway. Elsewhere only slight frosts and wintry showers in places. Prolonged and heavy snow showers for NW Mids where a location high up in N Staffs reported 24cm lying, there was a slight covering at Coventry late in the night but this turned to rain and the thaw set in here too. Maxima Nottingham 3.9c,  Lwn & Market Bosworth 6.8c, Trawsgoed 7.4c, Pershore 7.7c, MH 8.4c.

Sat 23rd slight overnight frosts. Named storm Bert brought much milder strong SW winds and copious rains over the weekend, large rainfall totals across Wales, over 4 inches by midnight Snowdonia, rain totals CC 79.8mm (2100) wettest place in the UK; totals to midnight: Llanwnnen 46mm, NRW stations Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 102mm, Crai Reservoir (Brecon Beacons) 97mm, Corris (near Machynlleth) 88mm, Treherbert (Valleys) 82mm, locally Pencader wettest 67mm.

In the Peak District of Derbyshire a long standing observer considered that 'the cold spell just ended is the most severe to occur wholly within November at this site since Nov 13th-17th 1965.'

Sun 24th 49.3mm measured here at Lwn 0900 making it the wettest November day here srb 2006 (previous 38.8mm Nov 2019), that's 70mm in 36 hours. An exceptionally warm night, here at Llanwnnen the maximum being 14.5c at midnight (it dropped off by dawn to 11c). Brize Norton (Oxon) 17.8c at 0800 the highest reading in the UK, while Coventry peaked at 16.5c first thing this morning (looks like the mildest temperature so late in November for the city).

Winds not so bad here, nothing I reckon above 50mph. Max gusts this weekend Capel Curig 82mph (not out of the ordinary), Pembrey Sands 64mph, Aberdaron 62mph, Aberporth 58 mph, Coleshill 52mph, Trawsgoed 44mph, Coventry 37mph.

Park End in the Forest of Dean has had 77mm in the 24 hours to midday today (24th). Slow moving band of heavy rain from the Cotswolds through Banbury & west Northants all afternoon gave 2 to 3 inches widely in this zone, Preston Capes south of Daventry 75mm today (54mm of this falling between 12 and 1800). The Valleys widely over 5 inches this weekend. Libanus 72mm wettest MO station today, also ROW 42.6mm. Wettest NRW station Tyn y Waun (Treherbert) collected over 170mm during the weekend. Stoke Newington, near Banbury (classified as being in SE England although next to Warwickshire) 70.6mm. Warwickshire was relatively dry in comparison with around an inch for the weekend. Severe flooding affected the Valleys today and there was anger that the warning was only a yellow and not amber/ red. Parts of Northants suffered badly from flooding this evening especially Billing Aquadrome, while the tracks were underwater at Northampton train station.

Santon Downham (Suffolk) reached 18.7c this afternoon which is one of the highest readings so late in the year historically.

Rather cold briefly during the final week but then a very mild ending to Autumn 2024 as well:

Thu 28th widespread frost min Shawbury -4.8c, Lwn & Tirabad -4.2c, Coventry -2.7c,  Mist and fog persisted much of the morning parts of Mids suppressing temperatures, maxima ROW 3.5c, Coventry 5.1c, CL 6.7c, Lwn 8.4c, Valley 11.0c.

Fri 29th Porthmadog max 15.5c mildest in UK, in contrast parts of E Mids near average at 9 or 10c (Market Bosworth 10.1c).

Sat 30th mildest finale to November in the 130 year record at Coventry with max 15.5c (previous daily record 14.2c 1924).  Other maxima Pershore College 15.9c, Sutton Bonington 14.6c, Gogerddan 15.2c, Nott 13.6c, Aberporth, CC & Lwn 13.5c, Aberdaron 13.0c.

Nature notes

Sat 2nd a few Fieldfare field besides southern forestry, still a few Foxglove flowers.

Mon 4th local walk Blaencwrt and Llysfaen lanes: much fresh growth which must be down to the run of very mild nights rather than sun (nights here above 8c since Oct 30th, no sun at all so far this month): Includes grasses, bracken, Cranesbills in flower, Cow Parsley like plant in flower, new leafage in hedgerows; Roses and Ox Eye Daisy seen in gardens along with various other flowers. At dusk a Bat flew over us along the lane.

Tue 5th Aberystwyth Starlings at pier not in large numbers as yet but several thousand; Redwing audible flying over after dark.

Thu 7th warm sunny periods today brought the garden to life with plenty of insects and small flies and a bit of bird song too. Grannell lane several Cow Parsleys in bloom along with some elder saplings, much fresh growth inc nettles. Bracken dying off.

Quite a few flowers out mid month, leaf fall pronounced past week. First Hazel catkins showing.

Tue 19th few Fieldfare trees end of gardens; on a cold frosty evening noticed one small Fox & Cubs still in flower in the front garden (not seen this late but the frost will finish it).

Wed 20th southern forestry, Llanybydder: Fieldfare and Redwing by the lane not in number yet.

Sat 30th rather a large Wasp in the house today did n't have the heart to let it out so gave it some honey, although it soon died.

November 2024 summary

Average to rather mild temperatures; dull to average sun; rainfall varying between dry and wet

Much of west Wales had below average rain while the Midlands generally near average to wet.

Rainfall totals Nov 2024

Mona, Anglesey 53.2mm (very dry)

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 192.8mm (dry)

Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular 63.6mm (dry)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 111.8mm (rather dry)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 89mm (rather dry)

Llanwnnen 139.4mm (89%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 84mm (dry)

Milford Haven, Pembs 110.6mm (rather dry)

Watnall (Notts) c 58mm (average)

Shawbury c 77mm (rather wet)

Coleshill c 58mm (rather dry)

Coventry, Bablake School 76.7mm (123%)

CL, Warks 72mm (120%)

Pershore, Worc 69mm (rather wet)

Hereford 92mm (rather wet)

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 60.6mm

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges Nov 2024

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 62mm (dry)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 134mm (dry)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 250mm (rather dry)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 82mm (rather dry)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 242mm (average)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 85mm (rather dry)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 115mm (rather dry)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 152mm (average)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 112mm (rather dry)

Pencader (Carms) 181mm (average)

Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 147mm (rather dry)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 159mm (rather dry)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 107mm (rather dry)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 89mm (rather dry)

Southgate, Gower 83mm (rather dry)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) note appears out of action late Nov

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 163mm (average)

Tenby (Pembs) 133mm (average)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) appears faulty

COL stations rainfall 

Llansadwrn 72.3mm (54%)

Ludlow, Salop 114.1mm 149%)

Alvechurch, Worc 79.3mm (93%)

Warstock, Brum 69.1mm (88%)

Cosby, Leic 61.3mm (95%)

Hinckley 64.8mm

Towcester, Northants 92.6mm (125%)

Sunshine totals Nov 2024

Aberdaron 33.5 hrs (dull)

Llanwnnen estimated  46 hrs (86%)

Nottingham 55.7 hrs (near average)

Coventry, Bablake School 58.8 hrs (88%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 51.6 hrs (rather dull)

COL stations sun:

Ludlow 65 hrs

Alvechurch 59 hrs (90%)

Cosby 58 hrs (77%)

Towcester 63 hrs

Autumn 2024

Temperatures around average; rainfall variable from dry to very wet; most places rather dull.

A wet Autumn for the Midlands, very wet indeed Marches; most places in WW rather dry to average but dry for Snowdonia (relatively speaking). Twice the average for Hereford & Shawbury must be rather exceptional.

Rainfall Autumn 2024

Mona 254mm (rather dry)

Capel Curig 506mm (dry)

Trawsgoed 336mm (rather dry)

Aberporth 254mm (rather dry)

Llanwnnen 387.8mm (92%)

Pembrey Sands 331mm (average)

Milford Haven 351mm (average)

Watnall 278mm (wet)

Shawbury 352mm (almost twice the average)

Coleshill 308mm (very wet)

Coventry 304mm (160%)

CL 265.2mm (138%)

Pershore 282mm (very wet)

Hereford 397mm (twice the average)

King's Newnham (EA)  254mm

Autumn 2024 sunshine

Aberdaron 276 hours (average)

Llanwnnen estimated 234 hrs (88%)

Watnall 237 hrs (rather dull)

Shawbury 226 hours (rather dull)

Coventry 257.4 hrs (85%)

Weather log October 2024

Weather log October 2024

Key

WW = West Wales

Mids = Midlands

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Nott= Nottingham

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

MO = Met Office

NRW = National Resources Wales

EA = Environment Agency

est = estimated

inc = including

cf = compared with

srb = since records began

CC = Chiffchaff
WW= Willow Warbler
ST = Song Thrush
BB = Blackbird

Tue 1st wet day Midlands, an inch in places (Market Bosworth 25mm).

Short dry fine spell ensued much of the first week (Lwn just trace rain to 5th):

Thu 3rd grass frost in places, air minima Pershore +0.8c, Shobdon 1.0c, CC 1.9c, Pembrey Sands 2.9c, CITE 3.6c, Lwn 3.7c, Trawsgoed 4.5c, Coventry 6.0c (grass min -0.7c), Nott 7.1c, Aberdaron 9.3c. Sunny periods, rather warm for October in many places, Lwn max 17.7c (warmest day since the Equinox Sept 21st). Other max Whitechurch 18.9c (warmest in UK), CITE 17.7c, Wellesbourne 17.5c, Trawsgoed 17.3c, Coleshill 17.0c, CC 13.7c.

Fri 4th widespread grass frost Mids and locally inland Wales, in contrast some coasts very mild; minima Shobdon 0.0c, Pershore 0.9c, Coleshill & Tirabad 3.0c, Coventry 3.4c (grass min -2.2c), Llanwnnen 3.6c, CL & Nott 3.9c, Aberdaron 11.5c. Mild sunny spells for many, warmest regional maxima Gogerddan 17.4c, Pembrey Sands 17.2c, Pershore 17.1c (Coventry & Lwn 16.1c).

Sat 5th locally grass frost Mids, South Newington (near Banbury) air min 0.9c coldest in UK then Shobdon air min 1.4c; generally feeling cooler in a keen wind today although Porthmadog managed 18.1c and Pershore 17.9c (Lwn 16.0c).

Tue 8th showers or longer spells of wet weather, isolated thunder. 2 inches locally especially W Mids. Heavy spells of rain affected parts of W Mids from late afternoon into the evening with an area from the west side of Coventry to Nuneaton getting large totals. MO wettest spots to 2100: Coventry (W Mids) 32.8mm, Market Bosworth (E Mids) 23.0mm and Scolton Park (Pembs) 38.8mm for Wales. Several Nuneaton PWS close to 50mm for the day.

Wed 9th 24 hour totals to 0900: Coventry 37.0mm (wettest day of the year so far for the city) although Finham (EA) in the south of the city received much less (18.6mm), and less still further east towards Rugby, KN (EA) 13.0mm, CL 13.2mm. Reports of a 'mini tornado' in the Finham area yesterday early evening.

Fri 11th widespread frost, air min Llanwnnen -3.8c the coldest reading by this stage in Autumn (October record though a much coldest -8.0c (25/10/2018). Other minima Tirabad -3.5c (coldest MO station in UK), Swyddffynnon -2.6c, Pembrey Sands -2.0c, Pershore -1.8c, CITE -0.6c, CL -0.1c, Nottingham +1.2c, Aberdaron 6.3c. Fine sunny day for many with unbroken sun parts of West Mids, rather cool though (max Coventry 13.0c, Lwn 13.3c, Whitechurch 14.4c). Sun Shobdon 10.1 hrs, Coventry 9.8c, Lwn est 8 hours.

Sat 12th widespread grass frost, air min CC -0.5c, Lwn & Trawsgoed 2.2c.

First half of October 2024

Rather cool or average temperatures; very variable rainfall from very dry to very wet; sunshine rather dull to average.

West Wales rainfall ranging from very dry (CC Snowdonia just 20% average) to wet (Pembrokeshire); Midlands rather wet to very wet with some locations up to the whole October average (60 - 70mm).

Rainfall totals to 0900 October 16th:

Valley c 35mm (rather dry), Capel Curig c 50mm (very dry), Trawsgoed c 35mm (very dry), Aberporth c 35mm (dry), Llanwnnen 55.3mm (rather dry), Pembrey Sands c 70mm (rather wet), Milford Haven c 94mm (wet).

Nottingham c 50mm (wet), Shawbury c 40mm (rather wet), Coleshill c 55mm (wet), Coventry 63mm (very wet), CL 39.6mm (rather wet), Pershore c 50mm (very wet), Hereford c 65mm (very wet)

Sunshine 1st to 15th Oct: Aberdaron 57 hours, Aberporth 44 hours (near average), Llanwnnen est 47 hours (average), Nottingham 41 hours (rather dull), Coventry 49 hrs (rather dull), Shobdon 42 hrs (rather dull).

Wed 16th warm humid and in places very wet airmass. At Llanwnnen the overnight low was 13.6c during the evening rising to 16c by 0500. Marches especially wet with E Mids staying mainly dry. 2 or 3 inches widely for Shropshire & Herefordshire contrasting with just a couple of mm across Warwickshire. Bishop's Castle (Salop) wettest EA gauge to midnight with 75.6mm, with nearby Pennerley (Stiperstones) 64.4mm the wettest MO station (2100); also Shobdon (Herefordshire 54mm). Widespread flooding across these counties also parts of S Wales where also more than 2 inches fell. Llanwnnen 24mm in the 24 hours to midnight unremarkable. Most places 17 to 19c well above average (13 or 14c), Pershore College max 18.6c, Trawsgoed 17.9c; St James Park, London max 22.5c today notable.

Sun 20th first named storm of the Season called Ashley by the Irish: this mainly affected NW UK although exposed NW Wales was hit too, highest gust Aberdaron 81mph which according to Derek Brockway was the strongest at that site for 10 years. Here at Lwn a normal windy day (certainly nothing above 50mph; also Pembrey Sands 58 mph. Rain in the morning cleared to sunny spells and mild.

So far October has not been too bad, not a washout as it often can be, with plenty of mainly dry and bright and mild days, could be the first month to reach average sunshine since January!

Towards month end  mild or very mild and bright at times, very pleasant for late October:

Thu 24th very mild, sunny spells for many but some light rain or drizzle SW Wales: maxima Porthmadog 17.5c, Market Bosworth 17.2c, Pershore 17.1c, Trawsgoed 16.6c,  Lwn 15.7c, CC 14.9c; Wellesbourne 6.6 hrs sun, Aberporth 4.9 hrs, Lwn 4.5 hrs estimated.

Fri 25th mild or very mild, maxima ROW 17.5c, Pershore & Trawsgoed 17.4c, Lwn 15.7c.

Mon 28th mild or very mild and a warm late October day for the Marches, maxima Hereford 18.7c, Shobdon 17.8c, Trawsgoed 16.3c, Lwn 15.3c, Coventry 15.1c.

Nature notes

During the fine spell early month up to 4 Painted Ladies sunning and feeding off fallen rotting Apples, also several Whites and Speckled Wood still active and a Dragonfly (one more Hornets sighting one day during the fine spell).

Martins and Swallows seemed to have disappeared...

Thu 3rd first Redwing heard to fly over the garden in the dark this evening (quite early).

Bees and a few Wasps often feeding on Ivy that is coming into flower.

Thu 10th southern forestry: secondary Foxglove flowers (i.e. not from main Summer stems) since late Sept. Cranesbills in bloom again up lane; much Gorse bloom (it can flower any time of year).

Mon 14th southern forestry: what looked like a primary Foxglove stem in flower (perhaps after the hedge trimmed back a few months back) also fresh bracken fronds.

Mon 21st driving back from Carmarthen my wife was surprised to see a House Martin enter a nest in the village of New Inn. I looked over and could see it was a fresh looking nest but the bird would have been inside by then after a few seconds. Don't think I have ever seen them this late (have seen them early, possibly mid October).

Been hearing a few Redwing fly over some evenings most of the month now. Think I saw a few Fieldfare at the forestry the other week too.

Bees, Wasps and small flies feeding off the Ivy nectar late month still, also a Red Admiral. Large White also seen in the garden one fine day. 

Mon 28th Neuadd lane: Mild of late, birds especially active and vocal this afternoon, Wren brief burst of song, Tits calling including Great Tit 'teacher teacher'. Quite a show of Red Clover along the wide verge approaching the lane. Disappointing that the 2 Beech stumps surviving from when the trees blew over in a gale a few years back have been removed and replaced by a new fence section, they were clinging to life still with fresh shoots and supported other life such as Hawthorn growing out of one also other plants. 

Month end: Ash have largely lost their leaves now while Oak are retaining most. Starlings back in some numbers in the village, prior to this one has been in song from next doors aerial where they have nested before. Garden at the end of ours has gone plastic (fake grass and plastic fence panels) at least more private (weak hedgerow grubbed out last year by our landlord).

Summary October 2024

Rather mild; rainfall varying from dry to very wet; sunshine rather dull to quite sunny.

Most of West Wales below average rain; Midlands very variable from rather dry to very wet. 

Sunshine generally about the average, ranging from rather dull to quite sunny.

Here at Llanwnnen it was the driest October since 2017 (76mm) and sunniest since 2018 (99 hours) as well as the first above average month for sun since January; Coventry had its sixth successive wet October, this year being the driest one since 2018.

Rainfall totals October 2024

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 136.2mm (50%)

Mona, Anglesey 85mm (rather dry)

Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular 89.8mm (rather dry)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 92.4mm (rather dry)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 65mm (dry)

Llanwnnen 111.2mm (72%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 121.6mm (99%)

Milford Haven, Pembs 122.2mm (near average)

Nottingham c 65mm (near average)

Shawbury, Salop c 100mm (wet)

Coleshill c 90mm (rather wet)

Coventry, Bablake School 92.6mm (136%)

CL, Warks 61.6mm (92%)

Wellesbourne 65.8mm (average)

Pershore, Worc 78.6mm (121%)

Hereford c 125mm (wet)

Shobdon 127.2mm (151%)

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 58.2mm

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges Oct 2024

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 90mm (rather dry)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 121mm (dry)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 211.4mm (dry)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 106.6mm (wet)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 177.4mm (rather dry)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 93.4mm (rather dry)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 104.8mm (dry)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 115.4mm (rather dry)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 100.6mm (dry)

Pencader (Carms) 111.2mm (dry)

Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 132.8mm (rather dry)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 120.4mm (dry)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 147.6mm (average)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 129mm (average)

Southgate, Gower 138.2mm (average)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) 81.2mm (dry)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 183.8mm (average)

Tenby (Pembs) 116.6mm (rather dry)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 101.2mm (rather dry)

COL stations rainfall 

Llansadwrn 91.8mm (71%)

Ludlow, Salop 121.3mm (147%)

Alvechurch, Worc 83.1mm (99%)

Warstock, Brum 80.6mm (107%)

Cosby, Leic 66.5mm (96%)

Hinckley 74.0mm 

Alcester (Great Alne) 121.3mm (192%)

Towcester, Northants 58.8mm (76%)

Sunshine totals Oct 2024

Aberporth 107 hrs (average)

Aberdaron 110 hrs

Llanwnnen estimated  95 hours (108%)

Nottingham 73.7 hrs (rather dull)

Shawbury 96 hrs (near average)

Coventry, Bablake School 88.3 hrs (87%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 86 hrs (83%)

Wellesbourne 98.8 hrs (near average)

COL stations sun:

Ludlow 81.8 hrs

Alvechurch 73.2 hrs

Cosby 91 hrs

Towcester 104.6 hrs